Clear Sailing

PEOPLETALK

December 12, 1990|By MARTHA GROSS, Society Editor

OK, it`s official. Fort Lauderdale now has almost 400 new kids.

On Dec. 1, at Port Everglades Berth 25, the USS Leyte Gulf was adopted by the Broward County Council of the Navy League of the United States. A band played while the crew in its whites stood at attention on the decks. A Junior ROTC honor guard presented colors and then Marty Ellis, who co-chaired the event with council president Helen Scullin, presented a formal certificate of adoption to the guided missile carrier`s captain, Bob Patton.

And the deed was done.

League members schmoozed with the crew, noshed at a festive buffet on the hangar deck and toured the ship. Henceforth, the council will look after the well-being of the Leyte Gulf`s crew, providing hospitality, pen pals, help in contacting relatives, etc.

COMMISSIONING RITES

The adoption was only fitting. After all, the Leyte Gulf was commissioned here -- the only ship ever commissioned in Port Everglades -- on Sept. 26, 1987.

And what a blowout that was! A marathon week of 13 major fetes building up to the commissioning itself. Will any of the 12,000 spectators ever forget that electric moment when the ship ``came to life`` -- when its radar suddenly began moving, its guns began turning and cascades of balloons drifted skyward? When F-16 jet fighters zoomed down so close you ducked instinctively? And 396 sailors in whites charged with a roar from the bleachers and swarmed aboard their ship? Within moments they stood smartly, bow to stern, as if eagerly awaiting orders.

The commissioning was put together, bolt and screw, by Fort Lauderdale`s Norman and Jackie Kaye and Jim and Sally Dodge. Funding came from a group called Honorary Members of the Wardroom, which included Kaye, Dodge, Wayne and Harry Huizenga, Gordon Oliver, George Barbar and Ed Kennedy. Most of them were aboard when the spanking new ship sailed from the Pascagoula shipyards for three days of trials in the Gulf of Mexico.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS ...

Last week, the Honorary Members of the Wardroom met once more at a wardroom dinner given by Patton for them and their wives (Alice Barbar, Beverly Kennedy, Marti Huizenga and Jackie Kaye). Oliver, Harry Huizenga and Dodge couldn`t make it. But Marty and Edith Ellis did, along with city commissioner Jim Naugle and his date Janeen Degnan.

``This all brings back so many memories,`` Kennedy said during the cocktail hour on the bridge. Wayne Huizenga nodded. ``What an experience,`` he said.

``We had such a wonderful time those three days in the Gulf aboard this ship,`` Kaye sighed. ``Remember when we were hanging over the side, watching the sonar line, and the captain`s voice came booming over the loudspeaker? `Get off the railing! You can look through the scuppers!```

The men chuckled at the recollection.

Later, in the wardroom, they took one look at the beautifully set tables and hooted with pride. There were the crystal, silver and china they had given to the ship. ``No other ship in the Navy can set a table like that,`` Patton said, beaming. ``When we`re overseas entertaining dignitaries, they`re tremendously impressed with our table.``

After dinner (delicate egg-drop soup, shrimp-stuffed chicken breast, cream pie, etc.), Patton took everyone to see the workout room and library-to-be, which will make shipboard life a little more pleasant in the future.

The members immediately adopted the projects. ``Write a check, honey,`` Marti Huizenga urged her husband. He did, for $3,000. (If anyone has any bookcases or workout room equipment to donate, call Ellis at 568-2133. He`ll arrange delivery to the ship.)